By Kh Kashif Mir
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has ranked 129th out of 142 countries in the World Justice Project’s (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2024, showing a modest improvement from its 130th position last year, according to the latest report released by the international organization.
Despite the slight advancement in global standings, the report highlights persistent challenges across multiple governance indicators. Pakistan maintains its position as fifth among six countries in the regional rankings, underscoring continued struggles with institutional reforms in South Asia.
The WJP report reveals a complex pattern in Pakistan’s rule of law performance over the past decade. The country experienced positive growth from 2015 to 2018, followed by a consistent decline from 2019 to 2023. The 2024 ranking marks the first improvement after five years of deteriorating scores, though experts caution that significant reforms are still needed.
Among the most concerning findings is Pakistan’s performance in order and security, where it ranks 140th globally – just three places from the bottom. The country also faces substantial challenges in civil justice (128th) and regulatory enforcement (127th), indicating systemic issues in legal administration and implementation.
The index, which evaluates countries across eight primary factors, shows Pakistan’s rankings in other key areas:
– Criminal Justice: 98th globally (4th regionally)
– Fundamental Rights: 125th globally (4th regionally)
– Open Government: 106th globally (4th regionally)
– Absence of Corruption: 124th globally (5th regionally)
– Constraints on Government Powers: 103rd globally (4th regionally)
These rankings come at a particularly challenging time for Pakistan’s judiciary, which has been experiencing unprecedented public disagreements among senior judges. The WJP findings serve as a critical assessment of the country’s justice system and broader governance framework.
The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index is widely recognized as a leading source for original, independent data on rule of law worldwide. The assessment is based on national surveys of more than 150,000 households and 3,600 legal practitioners and experts across participating nations.
Legal experts suggest that while the slight improvement in ranking is encouraging, Pakistan needs comprehensive reforms across its justice sector and governance institutions to achieve meaningful progress in future assessments.
The report emerges as Pakistan continues to grapple with various institutional challenges, including judicial reforms, anti-corruption measures, and efforts to strengthen democratic institutions. Government officials are expected to review these findings as part of ongoing reform initiatives.
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